Orban Optimod-FM 5700i

The 8500 Sound You Trust at a Price You Can Afford!

Summary

For years, broadcasters have trusted Optimod-FM 8500 to build audiences and ratings with its big, bold sound. Optimod-FM 5700i now offers the popular 8500 sound in a compact, cool-running 1U package at a more affordable price. The 5700i provides stereo enhancement, equalization, AGC, multiband compression, low-IM peak limiting, stereo encoding, and composite limiting—everything that you need to compete in your market.

The front-panel display includes a 2×40-character LCD and LED bargraphs that show all metering functions of the processing structure (Two-Band or Five-Band) in use. The metering is always visible while you are adjusting the processor. Navigation is by dedicated buttons, soft buttons (whose functions are context-sensitive), and a large rotary knob.

Ethernet connectivity is standard, as is an easy to use PC remote control application that runs on Windows XP and higher and that can control many 5700i units on a TCP/IP network. Additionally, programmable contact-closure (GPI) control plus ACSII terminal control via the 5700i’s RS232 serial and Ethernet ports together give you total freedom to interface the 5700i with your facility’s remote control infrastructure, whatever it might be. SNMP support offers yet another way to control and monitor the 5700i’s operation via your network.

The 5700i is available in two versions: an FM-only version (5700iFM) and a version (5700iHD) that includes simultaneous processing for FM and for digital transmissions like netcasts and HD Radio. Via a purchased upgrade kit, the FM version can be upgraded to the HD version at any time without removing the unit from the rack or disconnecting any wiring. Both versions offer up to 16 seconds of delay in the FM processing chain, which is useful for HD Radio diversity delay or other purposes.

Features

The FM and digital media processing paths split after the 5700i’s stereo enhancer and AGC. There are two equalizers, multiband compressors, and peak limiters, allowing the www.orban.com analog FM and digital media processing to be optimized separately. The bottom line? Processing that optimizes the sound of your FM channel while punching remarkably crisp, clean, CD-like audio through to your digital channel audience.

More than 20 excellent sounding, format-specific factory presets get you started. You’ll find all of your favorite 8500 presets here. Although the factory presets are fully competent “out of the box,” you can customize them with easy one-knob LESS-MORE control or with more than 60 advanced controls whose versatility will satisfy even the most finicky on-air sound designer. If you have created custom presets for Optimod-FM 8500, 8400, 8300, 5500, or 5300, you’ll find that they import perfectly into the 5700i, retaining your carefully designed sound.

If you choose to use the 5700i’s superb DSP-based stereo encoder and composite limiter, be assured that they deliver an FM analog signal that is always immaculately clean and perfectly peak limited, with full spectral protection of subcarriers and RDS/RBDS regardless of the amount of composite limiting.

The 5700i includes a “ratings encoder loop-through” connection. This allows a ratings encoder with an AES3 digital input and output to be inserted between the output of the left/right audio processing and the input of the stereo encoder. This keeps the audio level driving the ratings encoder as high as possible, minimizing the number of “low audio level” alarms that the ratings encoder generates.

For our European customers, a second-generation ITU BS 412 multiplex power controller smoothly and naturally complies with the standard. In addition, the 5700i-HD’s digital radio processing path offers an ITU-R BS.1770-compliant loudness controller and a 4x-oversampled, “true peak” limiter that prevents clipping from occurring at the output of the D/A converter in a consumer receiver or other playback device.

To protect your investment, the 5700i can be upgraded to full 8600S functionality via a purchased upgrade kit. There’s no need to remove the unit from the rack, and you will immediately benefit from Orban’s state-of-the-art MX limiter technology.

Technical Specification

Technical Specification

It is impossible to characterize the listening quality of even the simplest limiter or
compressor based on specifications, because such specifications cannot adequately
describe the crucial dynamic processes that occur under program conditions. Therefore,
the only way to evaluate the sound of an audio processor meaningfully is by
subjective listening tests.

Certain specifications are presented here to assure the engineer that they are reasonable,
to help plan the installation, and make certain comparisons with other
processing equipment.

Performance

Except as noted in the text, specifications apply for measurements from analog left/right input
to stereo composite output and to FM analog left/right output.

Processing Sample Rate: The 5700i is a “multirate” system, using internal rates from 64
kHz to 512 kHz as appropriate for the processing being performed. Audio clippers operate
at 256 kHz (and are anti-aliased), while the composite limiter operates at 512 kHz.

Peak Control at HD Output: The peak limiter is oversampled at 256 kHz, yielding a worstcase
overshoot of 0.5 dB at the analog output and for all output sample rates. (To achieve this performance at 32 kHz output sample rate, it is necessary to set the 5700i’s
HD lowpass filter cutoff frequency to 15 kHz.)

Input Reference Level: Variable within the range of –30 dBFS to –10 dBFS.

J.17 De-emphasis: Software-selectable.

Filtering: RFI filtered.

Digital Audio Outputs

Configuration: Two outputs, each stereo per the AES3 standard. The outputs can be independently set to emit the analog FM processed signal, the digital radio processed signal,
or the low-delay monitor signal. The FM processed signal can be configured in software as flat or pre-emphasized to the chosen processing pre-emphasis (50μs or 75μs). The digital radio processing chain receives the output of the multiband limiter and processes it through a look-ahead peak limiter that operates in parallel with the main FM peak limiting system. The DR and FM signals are always simultaneously available. Each output can apply J.17 pre-emphasis if desired.

6-4 TECHNICAL DATA ORBAN MODEL 5700i
AES3id Input

Configuration: The Wordclock/10 MHz Sync Reference can also be configured as an
AES3id digital audio input to drive the input of the stereo encoder. This facilitates a “ratings
encoder loop-through” connection, where the input of the ratings encoder is driven
from one of the 5700i’s AES3 outputs and the encoder’s output is returned to the AESid
input.

Connector: BNC female, grounded to chassis, terminated with 75. For short cable runs,
there is usually no problem in driving this with an AES3 (110 signal. If the cable is long
enough to cause digital audio reception errors due to impedance mismatch, a
110/75 transformer should be placed in-line.

Composite Baseband Outputs

Configuration: Two outputs, each with an independent software-controlled output level control, output amplifier and connector.

Source Impedance: 0 voltage source or 75, jumper-selectable.

Load Impedance: 37 or greater. Termination not required or recommended.

Ethernet Connector: Female RJ45 connector for 10 Mbps and higher networks using
CAT5 cabling. Native rate is 100 Mbps. Provides for connection to the 5700i PC Remote
application through either a network, or, using a crossover Ethernet cable, directly to a
computer.

Ethernet Networking Standard: TCP/IP.
Remote Control (GPI) Interface

Configuration: Eight (8) inputs, opto-isolated and floating.

Voltage: 6–15V AC or DC, momentary or continuous. +12VDC provided to facilitate use
with contact closure.

Tally Outputs

Circuit Configuration: Two NPN open-collector outputs.

Voltage: +15 volts maximum. Do not apply negative voltage. When driving a relay or other
inductive load, connect a diode in reverse polarity across the relay coil to protect the
driver transistors from reverse voltage caused by inductive kickback.

Current: 30 mA maximum

Indications: Tally outputs can be programmed to indicate a number of different operational
and fault conditions, including Input: Analog, Input: Digital, Analog Input Silent, AES Input
Silent, and AES Input Error.